I'm in the process of setting up a Innovative marine nuvo 75EXT and have plumbed it. I noticed my bulkheads (all 3) are leaking. It looks like it's coming from the seal. I only hand tightened them and they are barely leaking. I checked this morning and it's such a small leak it's almost like a sweat. Should I try tightening it more with something? I heard if you over tighten the seal you could ruin it. Any suggestions?
Leaking bulkhead?
- Thread starter Rcollick
- Start date
- Tagged users None
CC13
Valuable Member
Could be the following reasons:
1) The surface you mounted the seal was dirty - allowing some water to leak
2) The seal sometimes has a fine 'line' from the manufacturing mold. Get rid of this with some fine sandpaper.
3) You didn't tighten them enough. I always hand tighten, and then do maybe 1/8 to 1/4 more. You want to prevent the seal from bulging out of the sides, but you don't want them loose by any means.
4) Use better bulkheads. Cheaper bulkheads have thinner seals. Get better quality or premium more expensive bulkheads the seals and overall quality will be far superior. There are some exceptions, I find aquarium stores for the most part use sell cheaper fittings and bulkheads. Get your plumbing from either a pool store or a plumber supply store like Savko Plumbing:
https://www.savko.com/
Reeferdood
2500 Club Member
Did the bulkheads come with a wrench? Hand tightening is not quite enough and channel locks are too much. If they leak now they are not quite tight enough, provided the surfaces on both sides of the gasket were clean before the install. Also, did you wet the gasket before installing them? That is my method and I have yet to have one spring a leak on me..
CC13
Valuable Member
No the seals should be 100% surface free from anything. Higher quality or more commercial bulkheads will come with seals that are perfectly flat. Cheaper ones will require you to sand them down a little to make the seal perfect.
Rcollick
Active Member
- Joined
- May 23, 2018
- Messages
- 218
- Reaction score
- 219
They didn't come with a wrench. I didn't wet them they were dry fit. Should I take them off and try resealing or tightening them a little more? I just didn't want to damage them. The return bulkheads were installed the same way with no problems.
CC13
Valuable Member
Go to home depot and buy a strap wrench they are not expensive:
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/search.html?q=strap wrench#!q=strap wrench
Take them off, inspect the seals, re-clean the surface they are going on and then re-install and make sure they are tightened down properly. You can't have bulkeads leaking.
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/search.html?q=strap wrench#!q=strap wrench
Take them off, inspect the seals, re-clean the surface they are going on and then re-install and make sure they are tightened down properly. You can't have bulkeads leaking.
JoshH
Tank Status: Wet...ish, growing things....
Those lines on the gasket are supposed to be there and as mentioned above hand tightening usually isn't enough. But you can use a wrench or any other tool to tighten them after the hand tightening. All it takes is a 1/8 to 1/4 turn with what ever you use and you should be good to go. Also as mentioned above, I would remove your bulkheads and re clean both the bulkheads and the glass before reinstalling
JoshH
Tank Status: Wet...ish, growing things....
You can use either one, it's just easier to over tighten with a crescent wrench. A strap wrench will start slipping on the nut when it gets too tight which helps prevent overtightening, where a crescent won't.
CC13
Valuable Member
You will use it more than you think trust me. Its definitely a good tool to have around.
CC13
Valuable Member
1) Tighten it by hand as much as you can
2) Attach wrench and visually look at the bulkhead nut (the thing that you can turn)
3) Turn the nut an additional 1/4 turn using the nut as a reference
Here are some examples but I would not use plumbers wrench like BRS does unless you know what your doing, and know what to look for because its far easier to over tighten with those wrenches.
Simplicity Aquatics
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2015
- Messages
- 176
- Reaction score
- 172
Thought I would hop on and clarify something. Most bulkheads have ridges or rings on the rubber seal, however the lines CC13 was referring too was the parting lines from the plastic mold which can disrupt the surface the seal is on.
CC13
Valuable Member
Can you take and post a picture?
Rcollick
Active Member
- Joined
- May 23, 2018
- Messages
- 218
- Reaction score
- 219
I'm going to try to tighten it up a little more tonight after work. If that doesn't do it I will remove them and post a picture. I'm hoping they just need to be a little tighter than hand tight.
vetteguy53081
Well known Member and monster tank lover
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
RGB
Article Contributor
Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
West Palm Beach Reefer
Hospitality Award
Ocala Reef Club Member
305 Reef Club
Wisco Reefers
Midwest Reefer
Fish Medic
MAC of SW Florida
Rock Pool Reef Keepers
R2R Secret Santa 2023
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
Tighten yes, but not to the point the gasket is squeezing out from the bulkhead.....Hand tighten and then snug it a little. Gasket should be on the outside, not inside aquarium as most make the mistake of doing such
Reeferdood
2500 Club Member
Gasket is on the flange side regardless of the orientation of the bulkhead, if it is on the nut side it will leak.
